Red Light
Robert was sitting at a red light, "Transitions" by Ween was blasting over his radio. How long had he been sitting there? It felt like hours. The autumn sun was beating down on him through the front windshield, he felt sweaty and gross.
"This is just great." He thought. "I won't even have time to shower when I get home."
He glanced to his right at the car next to him, a young boy was staring at him. The boy made a face and Robert smiled, but when Robert looked at the front seat, the boy's mother was not amused. Robert waved sheepishly and averted his eyes from the angry woman.
"Man, this light is long." Robert thought. "How long have I been sitting here, like an hour? Jesus, I have places to be."
Robert's phone began to ring and he answered it immediately, desperate for something to cut through his boredom. It was his buddy, Chris.
"Hello?" Robert said.
"Robby! What's up brother?" Chris said.
"Not much, stuck at a red light."
"Ah, man, I love red lights. Especially this time of year."
"Did I hear you right? Did you just say you love red lights?"
"Yeah, man. Red lights are great this time of year, they really let you take in your surroundings and stuff. The leaves changing color, the-"
"Don't- don't even try to sell me on red lights right now."
"What, you don't like Fall? How can you not like Fall?"
"Well now you're putting words into my fuckin' mouth, dude. I never said I don't like Fall, I just don't like red lights."
"How can you not appreciate a good red light? Given they occur at the right time, they can provide you with a great opporunity to get a look at the world around you that you never would have gotten otherwise."
"That's great and all, I totally see where you're coming from. But I don't like begin forced to look at the world around me, that's the kind of shit I need to take in on my own terms, dude. If I'm annoyed about the red light, my brain can't also appreciate the colors of the leaves, you feel me?"
"Yeeeeah, I guess so, man. Anyway, ready for your date?"
"Well, I smell like shit and I won't have time to shower so...define ready?"
"Eh, you sound ready to me."
Robert laughed.
"Thanks, brother. Oh, shit...the light just turned green, man. Hey, I'll text you later maybe, let you know how this date goes."
"Sounds cool, dude. Catch ya later."
"See ya, man."
Finally, the light was green. Robert slowly pressed down on the pedal, ready for that beautiful feeling of moving forward after being still for so long. His car jerked slightly and he was off. The car in front of him, he noticed, was having a little trouble picking up speed. Robert didn't think much of it as he inched closer and closer to the green light, he might actually have time to shower before his date.
As he was about to go under, the car in front of him stalled, barely giving Robert enough time to brake before he smashed into it. Robert looked up. The light went from green, to yellow and then right back to red.
"FUCK!" Robert smashed his fist into the steering wheel, then set his head down on it and let out a huge sigh.
He glanced out the window at a nearby tree. The leaves were beautiful- the oranges, reds and yellows all meshed together into the perfect mosaic of fall colors. For a brief moment, it almost made Robert forget how pissed off he was.
He'd never make his date now. But, if he was lucky, he might have time to take a shower later.